Petunia plant named ‘USTUN87002’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘USTUN87002’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USTUN87002’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USTUN87002’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous, freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 12, 2014 in Higashiomi Shiga, Japan of Petunia X hybrida ‘Salsa Pure White’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number P605-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jun. 10, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jun. 11, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USTUN87002’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USTUN87002’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. White-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Salsa Pure White’. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Salsa Pure White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more spreading and mounding         than and not as creeping as plants of ‘Salsa Pure White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Salsa Pure White’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers with dark blue-colored centers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Conbloss’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,556. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Conbloss’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘Conbloss’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Conbloss’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Conbloss’.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘KL 1117’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are smaller than plants of ‘KL         1117’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUN87002’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USTUN87002’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and early spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 24° C. Plants were eleven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘USTUN87002’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Petunia X hybrida ‘Salsa Pure             White’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia X hybrida identified as code number P605-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely             branching habit with about six to seven primary lateral             branches each with about two to four secondary lateral             branches per primary lateral branch developing; dense and             bushy appearance; pinching enhances development of lateral             branches; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 16.5             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 18             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.4 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading, about             45° from vertical. Texture and luster: Pubescent; viscid;             matte. Color, developing: Close to 146C. Color, developed:             Close to 146C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute             pubescence; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146A; venation, close to 146C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform             flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about more than 184 flowers developing             per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five to seven days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 145B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 9 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Tube diameter, proximally.—About 4 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.4 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Rounded. Petal lobe             margin: Entire; flat to slightly undulate. Petal lobe             texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety; slightly glossy. Petal lobe texture and luster,             lower surface: Scattered pubescence; matte. Throat texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Tube texture and             luster: Pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to NN155C. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 155C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D             occasionally slightly tinged with close to 62D; venation,             close to 148C; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C occasionally slightly             tinged with close to 62D; venation, close to 144C; color             does not change with development. Flower throat (inside):             Close to 145B to 145C; venation, close to 146C. Flower tube             (outside): Close to 145C to 145D; venation, close to 145B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.5 cm. Calyx             diameter: About 2.2 cm. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute             pubescence; matte. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 146A. When opening and fully             developed, lower surface: Close to 146A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 30° to 45° from the stem             axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.             Anther color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 159C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Style length: About 1.8 cm.             Style color: Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 145C. Ovary             color: Close to 146D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘USTUN87002’ as illustrated and described. 